Updating Cases - Update multiple case types in a single Excel import

Owned by Former user (Deleted)
Last updated: Mar 14, 2024 by Krinda Wernicke
3 min read

Step 1: Setup the import file to update multiple case types

If you are importing multiple case types, format your file so that each tab corresponds to a unique case type. Each tab needs to be renamed to the corresponding CommCare case type so that CommCare can differentiate which case type is being updated.

Step 2: Select File to Import

You have now created the Excel file to import and decided what unique ID to use to identify your cases. Next steps are 2a. select the file for import and 2b. specify the case type and the Excel column where your case ID is (so that CommCare HQ knows in which column of your Excel file the unique case ID is located).

Step 2a: Upload file

In your project, go to the Data tab and select Import Cases from Excel.

Step 2b: Determine the identifier

Select your file and click on >> Next Step. This brings you to a page that looks like this

Commcare will detect that there are multiple case types and instead of showing the case types it will show the label “commcare-all-case-types”,

Step 3: Completing the Import

Then you should be on a page with the following interface, press confirm and the CommCare will show the result of the import.

Once you press confirm, check for details in Recent Uploads

Upon starting an import, you will be returned to the landing page, and a new row will appear at the top of Recent Uploads, letting you view the progress of your import. Upon completion of the import, the following information will appear under details (messages only appear if the # isn't 0):

  • # rows matched and updated (corresponds to the number of cases updated for the Excel fields that you matched to case properties in the application)

  • # rows did not match any existing cases and had new cases created for them. If case_id's were used, these were ignored. (if you selected the option to create new cases, this indicates the number of new cases that were created where there were no matching Excel fields/case properties)

  • # rows matched more than one case at the same time (you may have multiple cases in your system with the same case_id, in which case the system will not update anything as it will not know to which case the new data corresponds)